We all lead extremely busy lives where we are pulled in a million different directions at once. One way to help manage the stress that our hectic lifestyles produce is mindfulness. Mindfulness is maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surroundings.

Practicing mindfulness also involves acceptance in that we pay attention to our thoughts and feelings without judgement, meaning there is no right or wrong way to think or feel in a given moment. When we practice mindfulness, we tune into what we’re sensing at the present moment rather than rehashing the past or imagining the future.

While mindfulness has its roots in Buddhist meditation, it is now widely accepted as a stress management technique due to the many positive effects it has on the mind and body. Mindfulness is used in a variety of settings including schools, prisons, hospitals, veteran programs, and beyond.

10 Reasons to Practice Mindfulness

Studies have shown that practicing mindfulness, even for just a few weeks, can bring a variety of physical, psychological, and social benefits. Here are 10 reasons to incorporate mindfulness into your life.

Fosters compassion and altruism: Research suggests mindfulness training makes us more likely to help someone in need and increases activity in neural networks involved in understanding the suffering of others and regulating emotions. Evidence suggests it might boost self-compassion as well.

Increases relationship satisfaction. Research suggests mindfulness training makes couples more satisfied with their relationship, makes each partner feel more optimistic and relaxed, and makes them feel more accepting of and closer to one another.

Benefits parents and parents-to-be: Studies suggest it may reduce pregnancy-related anxiety, stress, and depression in expectant parents. Parents who practice mindfulness report being happier with their parenting skills and their relationship with their kids, and their kids were found to have better social skills.

How to Practice Mindfulness
There are many ways to practice mindfulness, but all techniques are various forms of meditation used to achieve a state of alert, focused relaxing. This is done by deliberately paying attention to thoughts and sensations without judgement. This allows the mind to focus on the present. Here are some examples of how to practice mindfulness.

Basic mindfulness meditation: Quietly focusing on your natural breathing or on a word or “mantra” that you repeat silently. Allow thoughts to come and go without judgment and return to your focus on breath or mantra.

Body sensations: Notice subtle body sensations such as an itch or tingling (without judgement) and let them pass. Notice each part of your body in succession from head to toe.

Sensory: Notice signs, sounds, smells, tastes, and touches. Name them without judgement, feel them, and then let them go.

Emotions: Allow emotions to be present without judgement. Practice a steady and relaxed naming of emotions. Accept emotions as they come, acknowledge them without judgement, and then let them go.

Urge surfing: Cope with cravings and allow them to pass. Notice how your body feels as the urge enters. Replace the wish for the craving to go away with certain knowledge that it will subside and that you have control over the urge.

Mindfulness Classes Available for Employees and Students
Health Promotion and Wellness offers free mindfulness classes for both students and employees over the summer and through out the academic year. Classes meet once a week for four weeks. Each week participants learn a new mindfulness skill and practice using the concept.